Harvest Friendships Through Fall Festivities

[36] Whenever crowds came to Him, He had compassion for them because they were so deeply distraught, malaised, and heart-broken. They seemed to Him like lost sheep without a shepherd. [37] Jesus understood what an awesome task was before Him, so He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”

Matthew 9:35-37 Voice

Jesus’s compassion and teaching drew crowds. Seeing crowds of people did not produce fear, frustration, or fatigue, but rather compassion in Jesus. UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Magazine describes compassion this way:

“Compassion literally means ‘to suffer together.’ Among emotion researchers, it is defined as the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another’s suffering and feel motivated to relieve that suffering.”

Jesus was a friend who showed compassion to everyone he met, and he called his disciples to do the same. Everyone needs friends who share and relieve one another’s suffering. As Jesus’s disciples, we should look for every opportunity to show compassion in the lives of those around us.

The approaching holiday season gives us many opportunities to show compassion for people around us. Holidays can be amazing and fun, but they can also be challenging. We are excited to provide people the chance for relief, connection, and building memories together. With that in mind, we’re excited to kick off the season with our BACC Halloween Festivities!

Let the festivities begin

Every year, middle school, high school, and college students from all over the Bay Area get together to have fun at our annual Halloween parties!

Whether it’s costume contests, pie-eating competitions, carnival games, spooky decorations, or a fun dance party, there is something to enjoy for everyone!

Middle school and high school parties

Both the East and West Bays are excited to host some great middle school and high school parties, with opportunities for students to dress in their best Halloween costume for a chance to win some cool prizes, eat some Halloween treats, and dance the night away!

We will also provide sensory-friendly areas at each party, creating a quieter and calmer space with arts and crafts, board games, and other activities. Inclusion is something we are passionate about as a church, and we want to make sure everyone gets to be included in the fun of these parties.

Here is the information for each party if you are interested, and we hope to see you there!

East Bay Middle School Party:

East Bay High School Party

West Bay High School & Middle School Party

Campus parties

At our East Bay campus party “Haunted Hollywood” party, guests will dress up as their favorite celebrities and enter by walking down a red carpet. With great food, music, friends, and a Halloween-themed photo booth, it will definitely be a night to remember!

Our Silicon Valley campus party will be held at our Sunnyvale Common Ground Building, and will have food, dancing, a costume contest, a photo booth, a video gaming area, and a sensory-friendly area.

If you or someone you know is a college student in San Francisco, come hungry for a delicious pasta bar and dance the night away in your best costume!

For more info on the East Bay and SF parties, contact your local ministry staff!

No tricks – just trunks and treats

For the past several years our local Sunday services have hosted highly anticipated “Trunk or Treat” events! Our 2021 event in Sunnyvale even caught the attention of an NBC news crew who reported on neighborhoods coming together after the pandemic.

Come to see friends’ and families’ decorated cars and build fun memories together!

Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: “Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers…Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. …You have been treated generously, so live generously.

Matthew 10:5 MSG

God has “treated” us generously and wants us to live generously toward others. This is why it is important for us to create memories, have fun, and create safe and inclusive environments where people of all ages can experience acceptance and friendship. We hope to see you at any of our incredible events coming up, and happy Halloween!

Until next time!